Next December, the Heads of State and Government are to sign a new European treaty which will then be submitted for ratification in each Member State of the Union.The European Parliament has decided, before issuing its own assessment of the text, to invite European civil society to come to the Chamber and express its views on the new institutional landscape, asking it to present its appraisal and its xpectations, but also to better define its role within the new framework that is taking shape.The activities of this Agora will centre around two plenary sessions and two meetings of five workshops (‘Tasks’ - ‘Rights’ - ‘Tools’ - ‘Borders’ - ‘Horizons’). All the Members of the European Parliament will of course be able to participate in the work of the Agora. The European public will also be able to follow all the debates during the Agora live on Parliament’s internet site.The programme for the Citizens’ Agora of 8 and 9 November 2007 is included below. For more information, and to read the participants’ contributions, visit the internet site: www.europarl.europa.eu

THURSDAY 8 NOVEMBER 20078.30 - 10.00: Reception and accreditation of participantsPlace: European Parliament Accreditation Centre (Altiero Spinelli building)Delivery of dossiers and badges to participants.10.00 - 12.30: Plenary sessionPlace: EP Chamber, with Video WebstreamingInterpretation: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Polish and Portuguese.Inaugural sitting (10.00 - 11.00)‘What links exist between the European public and its Institutions?’SPEAKERS:- European Parliament: Mr Hans-Gert Poettering (President of the European Parliament)- Council of the European Union: representative of the Portuguese Presidency (to be decided)- European Commission: Mrs Margot Wallström (First Vice-President of the European Commission)- Economic and Social Committee: Mr Alexander Graf von Schwerin (Vice-President of the EESC)- Committee on Constitutional Affairs of the European Parliament: Mr Jo Leinen (Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs of the European Parliament)

Open debate (11.00 - 12.30)‘What role for the Citizens’ Agora?’CO-MODERATORS:- for the European Institutions: Mr Gérard Onesta (Vice-President of the European Parliament)- for Civil Society: Mr Conny Reuter (Secretary-General of an international federation of social movements) and Mr Henrik Kröner (Secretary-General of a large European integration movement)

‘Parliament’s objectives through the Agora’SPEAKERS:- Mr Jo Leinen (Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs of the European Parliament) and Mr Gérard Onesta (Vice-President of the European Parliament)Lunch for Agora participants (12.30 - 14.30)Place: European Parliament, Espace Yehudi Menuhin

14.30 - 18.00:Workshop meetingsInterpretation: English, French and German.Each of the five workshops will be opened by well-known speakers from the Institutions, who in 15 minutes will present the key points of the topics to be addressed. Participants will then have 15 minutes to respond to that opening speech before entering into an open debate. That debate, which will be led by two co-moderators (one from the Institutions and the other from civil society), will aim to establish a consensus or the range of options possible. On that basis a teamof ‘reporters’ (whose members will come solely from civil society) will have the task of drawing up a very brief summary (one recto-verso page) of the outcome of the discussions.

Workshop A: ‘TASKS’Place: European Parliament, Room A3G2, with Video WebstreamingThe European Union is to tackle new topics and new solidarities. How should it address them?Matters to be raised (list for guidance only):- The European social dimension (in particular the definition of services of general interest and application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights)- Climate protection- Energy supply and energy interdependence- Immigration policy- An integrated European diplomatic serviceGUEST SPEAKER:- Mr Jean-Pierre Jouyet (French Minister for European Affairs)- Mr Mario Sepi (President of the EESC's Employees Group)CO-MODERATORS:- for the Institutions: Mrs Pervenche Berès (Chairwoman of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament)- for civil society: Mrs Catherine Vieilledent-Monfort (Representative of a large European Federation )REPORTERS (civil society):- Ms Angela Schneider-Bodien (Representative of a large employer-employee federation)- Ms Tamara Flanagan (Head of a leading training and mutual aid NGO)- Ms Elissaveta Manolova (Journalist and Academic project leader)

Workshop B: ‘RIGHTS’Place: European Parliament, Room A1G3, with Audio WebstreamingThe European Union is to establish new rights. How are these to be understood?Matters to be raised (list for guidance only):- Implementation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights- Practical effects on the Charter of certain countries 'opting out’- Introduction of a right enabling the general public to petition the CommissionGUEST SPEAKER:- Mr Costas Botopoulos (Member of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs of the European Parliament)- Mr Henri Malosse (President of the EESC's Employers Group)CO-MODERATORS:- for the Institutions: Mr Giusto Catania (Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs of the European Parliament)- for civil society: Ms Katharina Erdmenger (Representative of a large social partner federation)REPORTERS (civil society):- Ms Anne Hoel (Adviser to a major European federation of social organisations)- Mr Bartosz Lech (Representative of a European federation of youth movements)- Mr Roland de Bodt (Essayist, author of numerous works on rights and European democracy)

Workshop C: ‘TOOLS’Place: European Parliament, Room A1E2, with AudioWebstreamingThe European Union is to acquire new tools. How should they be used?Matters to be raised (list for guidance only)- Procedure for nominating the Commission President and the Commissioners- Virtually universal legislative codecision with a double majority within the Council- Transparency of the Council’s legislative process- Stability of the European Council Presidency- Budget procedureGUEST SPEAKER:- Mr Enrique Baron Crespo (European Parliament representative at the Inter-Governmental Conference)CO-MODERATORS:- for the Institutions: Mr Gérard Onesta (Vice-President of the European Parliament)- for civil society: Mr Gabriel Fragnière (Former Rector of the College of Europe, chairman of a European cultural movement)REPORTERS (civil society):- Mr Arthur Forbes (Unit Head for Europe of a social partner confederation)- Ms Ecaterina Matcov (Representative of large European integration movements)- Mr Philippe Grosjean (Representative of a transnational network of civic organisations)

Workshop D: ‘BORDERS’Place: European Parliament, Room A3G3, with Video WebstreamingThe European Union wishes to enhance its geo-political role. How should it envisage this new relationship with the rest of the world?Matters to be raised (list for guidance only):- Deployment of a European diplomatic corps under a single head- Criteria for accession to the European Union and integration capacity- Neighbourhood relations and conflict prevention policy- Development policy and support for democratisation processesGUEST SPEAKER:- Mr Andrew Duff (European Parliament representative at the Inter-Governmental Conference)CO-MODÉRATORS:- for the Institutions: Mr György Schöpflin (Member of the Committee on constitutional Affairs of the European Parliament)- for civil society: Mr Piotr Kaczynski (Research fellow)REPORTERS (civil society):- Mr Aspe Montoya (Representative of a European integration movement)- Mrs Eliana Capretti (Representative of a youth movement)- Mr Dieter Hammer (Representative of a European integration movement)

Workshop E: ‘HORIZONS’Place: European Parliament, Chamber, with Video WebstreamingThe European Union is to agree an institutional compromise in order to break the deadlock in certain areas. How should the future stages of European integration be envisaged?Matters to be raised (list for guidance only):- Ways of consulting and informing the people of Europe and enabling them to take decisions- The structure of European civil society and ways in which it can act- A new power enabling the European Parliament to amend the Treaties- Simplifying the machinery of the Europe’s Institutions and making their workings transparentGUEST SPEAKER:- Ms Ondina Blokar Drobic (Representative of the future Slovene Presidency of the Union)- Mr Staffan Nilsson (President of the EESC's Various Interests Group)CO-MODERATORS:- for the Institutions: Mr Carlos Carneiro (Member of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs of the European Parliament)- for civil society: Mr Michele Ciavarini (Chairman of the national branch of a large European integration movement)REPORTERS (civil society):- Mr Daniel Spoel (Administrator of a transnational network of civic organisations)- Mr Georges Ingber (Adviser to a large European integration movement)- Ms Anna Gabrielle (Project leader for a large European student network)

18.00 - 20.00:Reporter meetingsPlace: various rooms at Parliament (to be decided)No interpretationThe five reporting teams will meet to work on the summaries of the proceedings of their respective workshops.

FRIDAY 9 NOVEMBER 20079.00 – 12.00:Workshop meetingsInterpretation: English, French and German.During this second working group session each of the five workshops (on the samesubjects) will finalise its conclusions by amending and confirming the reporters’ texts (drawn up as very brief summaries: maximum of one recto-verso page per workshop). As with the previous meetings, these discussions will be headed by two new co-moderators, one from the Institutions and the other from civil society. The reporting teams will be the same as the day before.Workshop A: ‘TASKS’Place: European Parliament, Chamber, with Video Webstreaming The European Union is to tackle new topics and new solidarities. How should it address them?Matters to be raised (list for guidance only):- The European social dimension (in particular the definition of services of general interest and application of the Charter of Fundamental Rights)- Climate protection- Energy supply and energy interdependence- Immigration policy- An integrated European diplomatic serviceCO-MODERATORS:- for the Institutions: Mr Johannes Voggenhuber (Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs of the European Parliament)- for civil society: Mr Ralph Hallo (Former chairman of a major European confederation of environmentalist movements) and Mr Tony Venables (Director of a large European federation of civic movements)REPORTERS (civil society):- Ms Angela Schneider-Bodien (Representative of a large employer-employee federation)- Ms Tamara Flanagan (Head of a leading training and mutual aid NGO)- Ms Elissaveta Manolova (Journalist and Academic project leader)

Workshop B: ‘RIGHTS’Place: European Parliament, Room A3G2, with Video WebstreamingThe European Union is to establish new rights. How are these to be understood?Matters to be raised (list for guidance only):- Implementation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights- Practical effects on the Charter of certain countries ‘opting out’- Introduction of a right enabling the general public to petition the CommissionCO-MODERATORS:- for the Institutions: Mrs Dushana Zdravkova (Vice-Chairwoman of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs of the European Parliament)- for civil society: Ms Marie Claude Vayssade (Chairwoman of the women’s committee of a major European integration movement)REPORTERS (civil society):- Ms Anne Hoel (Adviser to a major European federation of social organisations)- Mr Bartosz Lech (Representative of a European federation of youth movements)- Mr Roland de Bodt (Essayist, author of numerous works on rights and European democracy)

Workshop C: ‘TOOLS’Place: European Parliament, Room A3G3, with Video WebstreamingThe European Union is to acquire new tools. How should they be used?Matters to be raised (list for guidance only):- Procedure for nominating the Commission President and Commissioners- Virtually universal legislative codecision with a double majority within the Council- Transparency of the Council's legislative process- Stability of the European Council Presidency- Budget procedureCO-MODERATORS:- for the Institutions: Mr Gérard Onesta (Vice-President of the European Parliament)- for civil society: Mr Kyösti Hagert (Representative of a national federation of youth movements)REPORTERS (civil society):- Mr Arthur Forbes (Unit Head for Europe of a social partner confederation)- Ms Ecaterina Matcov (Representative of large European integration movements)- Mr Philippe Grosjean (Representative of a transnational network of civic organisations)

Workshop D: ‘BORDERS’Place: European Parliament, Room A1E2, with Audio WebstreamingThe European Union wishes to enhance its geo-political role. How should it envisage this new relationship with the rest of the world?Matters to be raised (list for guidance only):- Deployment of a European diplomatic corps under a single head- Criteria for accession to the European Union and integration capacity- Neighbourhood relations and conflict prevention policy- Development policy and support for democratisation processesCO-MODERATORS:- for the Institutions: Mr György Schöpflin (Member of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs of the EuropeanParliament)- for civil society: Mr Samuele Pii (Chairman of a large youth movement for European integration)REPORTERS (civil society):- Mr Aspe Montoya (Representative of a European integration movement)- Mrs Eliana Capretti (Representative of a youth movement)- Mr Dieter Hammer (Representative of a European integration movement)

Workshop E: ‘HORIZONS’Place: European Parliament, Room A1G3, with Audio WebstreamingThe European Union is to agree to an institutional compromise in order to break the deadlock in certain areas. How should the future stages of European integration be envisaged?Matters to be raised (list for guidance only):- Ways of consulting and informing the people of Europe and enabling them to take decisions- The structure of European civil society and ways in which it can act- A new power enabling the European Parliament to amend the treaties- Simplifying the machinery of Europe's institutions and making their workings more transparentCO-MODERATORS:- for the Institutions: Mr Jo Leinen (Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional Affairs of the EuropeanParliament)- for civil society: Mr Jean Marc Roirant (Head of a large European network of transnational civic movements)REPORTERS (civil society):- Mr Daniel Spoel (Administrator of a transnational network of civic organisations)- Mr Georges Ingber (Adviser to a large European integration movement)- Ms Anna Gabrielle (Project leader for a large European student network)

12.00 – 14.00:Interval

Lunch for Agora participants (12.00 – 14.00)Place: European Parliament, Restaurant des Députés14.00 – 16.00:Plenary sessionPlace: EP Chamber, with video webstreamingInterpretation: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Polish and Portuguese.Workshop reports (14.00 – 15.00)SPEAKERS:- two REPORTERS per workshop (5 minutes per person)General closing debate and approval of results (15.00 – 16.00)CO-MODERATORS:- for the Institutions: Mr Gérard Onesta (Vice-President of the European Parliament)- for civil society: Dr. Susana del Rio (Journalist and academic, member of a committee of experts on governance) and Mr Philippe de Buck (Secretary-general of a large international federation of social movements)

16.00 – 16.30:End of proceedingsAgora press conference (16.00 – 16.30)Place: Parliament’s press room, PHS 0A50Interpretation: English, French and GermanSPEAKERS:- one reporter per workshop to set out the results of the Agora‘Family photo’ of the participants and presentation of a ‘commemorative diploma’ (16.00 – 16.30)Place: EP Chamber

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About Me

I am currently the Press Officer for the EFD Group in London Working with the UKIP MEPs, where I've worked for the last three years. Before that I was a journalist and the founder of the Brussels investigative and satirical magazine, "The Sprout". At this time I was also the Brussels correspondent for the Private Eye and wrote for a number of national newspapers, principally The Sunday Telegraph.
I grew in up Dorset, living in Wimborne Minster and going to school between the Blackmore Vale and Cranborne Chase.
Formerly a candidate for the Conservatives, fighting a number of elections in Scotland, I believe that the best thing I ever did in politics was to join the UK Independence Party, It is nice to be honest again.